Rob Thomson Announces Starting Rotation for Phillies to Start the 2026 Season
Mar 1, 2026; Clearwater, Florida, USA; Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Andrew Painter (76) throws a pitch against the New York Yankees in the first inning during spring training at BayCare Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
After it had been announced the 2025 Cy Young runner up in Cristopher Sanchez would get the nod on Opening Day, the Philadelphia Phillies and manager Rob Thomson have announced the rotation the Phillies will open up the season with.
Even with the absence of star right-hander Zack Wheeler and Ranger Suarez, the return of strong arms and the hope of a promising rookie shows that the rotation will definitely be dominant.
3/26 vs. Rangers: Cristopher Sanchez
3/28 vs. Rangers: Aaron Nola
3/29 vs. Rangers: Jesus Luzardo
3/30 vs. Nationals: Taijuan Walker
3/31 vs. Nationals: Andrew Painter
With Sanchez getting the bump first, Phillies fans have to feel good about the possibility of another elite season for the south paw, as after today’s start against the Detroit Tigers, Sanchez looks to be continuing right where he left off last season.
In his five innings, Sanchez struck out four, and only gave up two hits and one run, meaning that his Spring Training earned run average will finalize at 1.29.
Last season, Sanchez finished fourth in the majors in ERA with 2.49, and led the majors in quality starts with 22. Sanchez’s 2025 seasons was nothing short of elite, as the only man to beat for the Cy Young Award was Pirates’ young ace in Paul Skenes, who absolutely broke out last year.
With having strengths like the changeup and the sinker, Sanchez is set to have another elite season, which could very well end up with the Cy Young in his hands this time around.
Though it may not have been expected, the next name on the list is veteran Aaron Nola, who had a rough go last season. In the 2025 season, Nola had an ERA of 6.01 and a record of five wins and 10 losses.
But while the stats sound like Nola might be “washed,” his statistics for Team Italy during the World Baseball Classics say otherwise. In two appearances over nine innings, Nola struck out eight and walked only two for an ERA of 1.00. This includes a start against Mexico, in a game that would eliminate Mexico, partially due to the performance of Nola.
Some may have given up on Nola, but the Phillies have all the faith they need for a great season from Aaron.
In the middle of the rotation is a man the Phillies had just wrapped up for the next five years, as Luzardo will pitch for the Phillies for the next half decade at least. Even though the Phillies lost one of the better left handed pitchers in Suarez, locking up Luzardo as your third starter in the rotation shows that the Phillies made up for it, as Luzardo’s slider/fastball combo coming out of the left hand has fooled hitters last season.
Even though Luzardo’s ERA grew throughout the year due to a couple of really poor starts, he finished fourth in the MLB in wins with 15, and fourth for strikeouts with 216, harkening back to that fastball/slider combo.
If Luzardo can keep his ERA under 3.50 this season, and uphold his strikeout count from last year, the Phillies will have an elite middle rotation starter.
Starting the season fourth in the rotation is Walker, who made a comeback last season, bringing his ERA down from 7.10 in 2024 to 4.08 in 2025.
As your fourth or fifth starter, 4.08 is a decent constant to get the job done, given the lineup the Phillies have. As Walker gets older, we don’t know what kind of season he will have, and we don’t even know if he will finish this season with the Phillies past the deadline, as he is on his last year on his contract with the Phillies.
Whatever happens this year, all Walker can focus on this season is dealing quality innings every start. He doesn’t have to be an ace, but he has to be consistent in the final year of his contract with the Phils.
The last of the five names on the rotation is the long awaited rookie season of Painter, who will finally be making his MLB debut after having Tommy John surgery in July of 2023. Painter has had a very strong spring with his consistency and his control of the fastball. At six feet seven inches, he has been delivering pitches at a foreign angle for hitters.
Painter may be in the last spot as a rookie, but it’s very possible he isn’t there for long.
With Wheeler on the injured list to start the year, the Phillies still have every possible ounce of hope for this rotation to start the season on Opening Day.
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